2 February 2002
Releases N1bn for salaries. Directs military to take over police duties
The Federal Government yesterday came down heavily on striking policemen, declaring their action as a mutiny and threatening to deal appropriately with those involved, even as the strike spread to other parts of the country from Calabar where it had started Thursday.
A statement by the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Steven Akiga, in Abuja last night said: "the Federal Government wishes to state emphatically that we do not regard the action of the policemen concerned as a strike but a mutiny, the implications are grave." The implications according to him include not only dismissal from the force but also prosecution.
The minister said that although the Federal Government had been informed of dissatisfaction within the rank and file of the police, it had been assured by the Police High Command "that the situation was being handled."
In addition, he said, all police formations had been "properly briefed on the efforts being made by the administration to tackle" the problems which he said "are known to be long-standing problems of the Nigeria Police.
Identifying such problems as those of conditions of service and welfare, the minister said that it was curious that the affected policemen were "becoming increasingly restive" and "were also utilising the most unconventional methods" to achieve their goals.
Describing these "subterranean activities" as mutinous, Akiga said that the extent of the involvement of the affected officers will soon be ascertained and appropriate actions taken.
As a immediate response to the police action, however the minister said that government has decided, among other things that the military take over all sentive duty posts which have been abandoned by the policemen.
THISDAY however gathered that this decision may, however, suffer some set back in Lagos where a lot of the military men (in the army) were affected by last Sunday's bomb explosions.
In a frantic move to curtail the spreading strike, the Federal Government yesterday released the sum of N1 billion to the Ministry of Police Affairs for the immediate payment of police salaries, just as it has effected the cash backing for the payment of January salaries of federal government workers.
A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to President Olusegun Obasanjo, notes that the sum released to the police on the orders of the president is in additional to an earlier allocation to facilitate payment of a shortfall on police salaries.
Observing that some junior police officers have already embarked on a strike action on account of the outstanding salary payments, the statement warns that "necessary payment will be jeopardised where mutiny is not called off" while payment will only be made to those not involved in the strike action.
The statement further notes that the release of the money was consequent upon the submission of police authorities and that approval is awaited from the national Assembly for any further release.
Other decisions later announced by the minister include:
a. In recognition of the fact that some Policemen have abandoned their duty posts, all sensitive points will be manned by the military;
b. Similarly, all essential escort duties that need to be performed will be handled by the military;
c. All Policemen who are not involved in mutiny will start to receive their allowances as from Monday 4th February, 2002;
d. All those who are involved in mutiny in any way will be screened to determine the extent of their involvement and the appropriate actions to be taken;
e. Anybody who is found to be involved in criminal activities like damage to public and private property will be made to bear full responsibilities for their actions.
While warning the "mutinous" policemen to desist from intimidating their colleagues who do not want to join in their actions, Akiga restated that the President Obasanjo administration remains committed to improving the lot of not only the police, but the entire citizenry of the country.
As the strike took its toll yesterday, banking activities were crippled in many parts of the country as junior police officers embarked on nationwide strike. The strike, the first of its kind in Nigerians socio-political history also sent jittery and palpable fear among the citizenry.
In an apparent attempt to meet the demands of striking police, Federal Government announced the release of the sum of N1billion to pay the outstanding allowances of the policemen.
The strike which began, a day before its earlier scheduled February 1, 2002, has spread to police formations in nearly all the states of the federation.
As at noon yesterday, policemen in, Lagos have joined the strike.
Their action may also have been influenced by the arrest of the ring leaders of the strike action, two days ago.
Inhabitants of Lagos woke up to notice the absence of policemen on the streets.worsening the already volatile traffic situation. Business concerns, particularly banks and other financial institutions were reported to have hurriedly close shop to forestall armed robbery attacks.
Most Lagos roads were chaotic and the authorities had to secure the services of men of the Civil Defence Corps and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency to control traffic.
Workers in the Lagos metropolis reportedly closed and left for home early in order not to be harassed by social miscreants.
Contacted on phone last night, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro confirmed that the strike action has spread to Lagos but that only some policemen are involved.
"Not all my men are involved, it is only some of the divisions that are involved. The situation is under control," Okiro said.
In Abuja, as a result of the fallout of the strike, business concerns, banks and other financial institutions hurriedly close shop fearing that criminal elements may take advantage of the absence of policemen to launch raids.
He said the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Bukar Ali, a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and other police chiefs were in a closed door meeting on the issue.
The policemen had gone on strike to press for the payment of their allowances, release of their promotions and other related welfare issues which have not been addressed for several years.
However after the meeting last night , the Deputy Force Pubic Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Oyeleye, told THISDAY on phone that the FG has released N1billion to pay all outstanding rent and other allowances.
He added that steps have been taken to resolve the issue of promotion and the list of those promoted would released next week.
According to him, "For years policemen were not promoted because there was no Police Service Commission (PSC). As you are aware the PSC was constituted about a month ago and it immediately began the process that led to the promotion of Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) to Deputy Inspectors General of Police(DIGs) down to Assistant Commissioners of Police."
Asked if he envisages that the strike would be called off immediately or soonest, he said " Call off the strike?, who will call it off, they have no union!"
However, the deputy Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Bukar Ali made good his threat to deal with organisers of the strike, when the arrested and paraded four police officer alleged to be the brain behind the strike.
At the Owerri, the main entrance to the state government house among other strategic duty posts in the state house were completely deserted by the striking policemen.
In most of the banks THISDAY visited, it was all tales of woes from disappointed customers who could not cash money for their weekend shopping. "How would I take care of my children this weekend without money and food at home" asked Nnenna Ogochi who was refused entry into one of the banks. The banks in Owerri, were shut due to security lapses emenating from the police strike.
The police command headquarters in Owerri, was under lock and key. No movement was allowed in and out of the premises.
Strategic traffic control posts which hitherto were marred by police men were also visibly deserted. These include the Okigwe round about and the assumpta road among others. Some of the police officers who were seem loitering around in clusters did not dress in police uniforms.
One of the officers who refused to disclose his identity said that the police were being unfairly treated.
Police in Benue however joined the strike following the arrest of four of their members adjudged to be the ring leader. This created tension in Makurdi, the state capital as police abandoned their duty posts.
Some of the uniformed policemen confided in THISDAY that the arrest of their colleagues without the resolution of the fundamental issues breaking affecting the force would not be solve the problem
Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police in charge of zone 4, Chris E. Obadan explained that the policemen were picked in Makurdi for violating service rules and described the strike action as illegal.
He also gave an insight into how the four policemen were quizzed. "We traced the transmission of those letters through their fax machine, a fax machine in government house, was traced and got them picked up."
He said after the arrest, the suspects were sent to police headquarters for interrogation, as according to him that is the appropriate place to handle the matter.
In Ibadan, bank customers, who showed up to transact business were shocked when the banks refused to open their doors citing insecurity and pleaded with customers to bear with the situations which they said would be temporary.
"We are sorry we cannot operate without policemen providing security, you can see for yourself there are no police men" said one of the banks official who spoke to THISDAY at the Trans International Banks (TIB).
The banks which closed to customers yesterday were Wema Bank, Bodija, Afribank U.I branch, First Bank, Union Banks, Cooperative Banks. In the government secretariat and Trans International Bank, Dugbe and however hundreds of customers who milled around the affected banks expressed their disappointment over their inability to withdraw money from their banks.
Mr Amos Adesanya a customer of Afribank Dugbe, lamented his inability to withdraw money yesterday.
But the new commissioner of police in Oyo State, Mr Kevin Opoke who was in the governor's office yesterday to brief governor Lam Adesina said he was not aware of any strike by his men.
"You can see me moving round, I am monitoring the situation, policemen are on essential duties, they are not supposed to
In Calabar, conspicuously missing from the roads also were the armed mobile policemen who have guarded strategic areas in the state capital providing vigilance under a new security arrangement in the state known as "Black Spot." vigilance.
Most financial institutions in the state like banks were closed as customers were blocked from entering the bank premises same with some big business outfits whose premises were usually manned by men of the Nigeria Police Force.
Even at the Government House Umuahia, security at the entrance to the place was very skeletal as hands of policemen who usually man the gate were no where to be seen.
At the police command headquarters, Bende road Umuahia, only few junior officers were seen around, most of them are those in the retinue of the commissioner's aides while only the commissioner's staff were the ones who fully reported to duty.
When THISDAY visited command public relations officer ASP Raymond Enabor said the junior officers of the command were not on strike even when it has glaring the affected officers had downed tools.
Asked to explain the absence of the policemen in their usually duty posts, Enabor admitted that he observed the absence of the policemen in one or two posts and that the command was going to investigate why such police officers personnel left their duty posts.
Despite the anxiety created by the police threats to go on strike, the situation remained calm in Osun State yesterday as the state command reassured the public of their safety.
As early ad 8.00 am, private securitymen of the bank had positioned themselves asking customers to either present their cheques, teller, draft, passbook or any related document before they could be allowed in through an alternative back door.
Banks activities also suffered setback in Akure, just as the police deputy-commissioner, Usman Raufu threatened that adequate punishment awaited any officer who joined the strike as "they will be dealt with."
Consequently, areas that usually experience heavy traffic hold-up were taken over by men of the civil defence corps and other well-meaning citizens.
However, those police officers on essential duties like those attached to the governor, his deputy and commissioners reported for duties.
However, while the strike started in other states of the federation, police in Benin were still seen in tact on their duty posts.
THISDAY gathered that the decision by the Edo State Police Command to jettison the strike was not unconnected with the stern warning issued them by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police incharge of Zone 5 Mr. Raimi O. Odofin.
The AIG had warned that dismissal and prosecution await any policeman in the state who chose to join the proposed strike.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Odofin said that since there was "no union in the Nigeria Police Force," policemen had no statutory basis for such a strike, stressing that any strike by the policeman would be regarded as "a mutiny".
The AIG therefore advised the officers and men "to continue to attend" to their duty like they had done in the past, calling those agitating for a strike as "a group of faceless and disguntled" officers and men of the rank and file.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Right Project had condemned the recent arrest of four policemen from the Markurdi zonal command over a junior officers' strike. The organisation also expressed concerned that Deputy Inspector-General of police Bukar Ali who announced their arrest has also pronounced the punishment to be meted out on the policemen without waiting for the due process law.
"In addition, the arrested and striking policemen have been labelled as mutineers, a serious crime involving violent rebellion against constituted authority, which is not the case here with the striking policemen"
The human right group called on the police authorities and government to address the complaints and concerns of policemen who have been grossly neglected and made to work under very harsh conditions without equipment and sometimes without adequate or even any remuneration at all. More details
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